Justice Peter Affen of an Abuja High Court Wednesday upbraided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for improper conduct.
The judge’s reaction was a response to the choice of words by EFCC counsel, Ibrahim Audu, during the hearing of a suit by an Austrian security consultant against the Commission for alleged illegal detention.
Wolfgang Reinl is seeking damages of N2 billion for his alleged detention from December 28 to February 5 and confiscating his travel documents.
He also accused the EFCC of seizing his brother-in-law’s two phones and insisting that the phones will only be released to his wife if she gave them the passwords to his phones, emails, text messages.
Audu argued Reinl has no right to sue but was overruled by the judge.
Miffed by the EFCC lawyer’s comportment, Justice Affen declared: “You are in court and I am the Dominis Litis here. This is not EFCC office. You must comport yourself. The problem is that you people (EFCC) have too much physical power and you carry it to everywhere you go.”
“This is not a motor park and you must not be throwing your hands anyhow and be shouting. When you come before me, you will never remain the same. You owe the court a duty of deference. Leave your policeman or EFCC powers at the door. Didn’t they teach you that in Law School?”
Reinl was detained in connection with in a contract issued by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is facing trial for allegedly diverting $2.1 billion meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram extremists.
Dasuki’s trial stalled Wednesday. Lawyer Wale Balogun said the Department of State Security (DSS) has refused to produce him in court or allow his lawyers to see him since he was detained in December.
